Cap and ball rifle

ABSTRACT

A single shot cap and ball gun features a rotary or faucet breech block having a chamber for black powder and a ball. Loading is accomplished with the breech block turned so that the axis of the chamber is across the axis of the gun barrel. Ignition is obtained from a single toy gun cap which fires through a flash hole in the breech block. The gun barrel contains a forcing cone to shape the ball projectile and increase its density. A hammer lock or safety is provided in conjunction with a locking device for the faucet breech block.

Mite

atent I191 Casull CAP AND BALL RIFLE Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Emory L. Groff et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A single shot cap and ball gun features a rotary or faucet breech block having a chamber for black powder and a ball. Loading is accomplished with the breech block turned so that the axis of the chamber is across the axis of the gun barrel. Ignition is obtained from a single toy gun cap which fires through a flash hole in the breech block. The gun barrel contains a forcing cone to shape the ball projectile and increase its density. A hammer lock or safety is provided in conjunction with a locking device for the faucet breech block.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CAP AND BALL RIFLE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide an extremely safe, simplified and economical single shot gun for target practice or sporting use. A minimum number of r uggcd and durable parts is employed in a compact breech mechanism which constitutes the essence of the invention. Safe loading and firing of the gun is assured.

The invention features a faucet breech block, also called a rotary chamber, which receives black powder and a single ball. The shooter has an opportunity to vary the amounts and types of explosive propellant employed, thus rendering the gun versatile. When the breech block is turned to the loading position the chamber thereof is open at one side of the gun with its axis approximately perpendicular to the barrel axis. A readily releasable spring lock is provided on the breech body or housing to secure the breech block in alignment with the barrel for firing. Associated with this spring lock is a hammer lock or safety which locks the hammer whenever the rotary breech block is released for turning or loading.

Ignition is obtained from a single cap of the type employed in toy guns, and the cap is contained in a readily removable cup on the breech block which is accessible when the breech block is turned to the loading position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a gun ernbodying theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the faucet breech block positioned for loading.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective breech mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the breech mechanism and illustrating the firing sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral 10 designates a rifle stock upon which is securely mounted a breech mechanism 11 constituting the principal subject matter of the invention. While the invention is illustrated in the form of a rifle, it is to be understood that the same is applicable to a pistol or hand gun and it is not intended to limit the invention in this respect.

The breech mechanism 11 comprises a fixed body portion or housing 12 of elongated block-like form securely seated in a recess formed in the stock 10. The housing 12 is provided in its top with a recess 13 adapted to receive a faucet breech block 14 also called a rotational chamber. The breech block 14 is generally cylindrical with one truncated flat side face 15 arranged perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical loading and firing chamber 16 formed in the faucet breech block and opening through the cylindrical side wall thereof remote from the face 15.

Opposite side wall portions of the breech block 14 are serrated at 17 to facilitate turning with the fingers.

view of the gun The top and bottom faces of the breech block are parallel and flat as shown so that the breech block may be contained bodily in the recess 13 of housing 12 and substantially flush with the top of the housing for the sake of compactness. As shown, the recess 13 has cylin drically curved side walls to accommodate the faucet breech block snugly. At its rear side adjacent the truncated face 15, the breech block is provided with a cylindrical nipple 18 containing a small axial flash hole 19 leading to the rear of firing chamber 16. A removable cup or cover 20 fits telescopically over the nipple 18 and is adapted to contain a cap 21, such as the cap commonly employed for children's toy cap pistols and like devices.

The bottom of the breech block 14 is equipped with a cylindrical trunion 22 having a threaded extension 23 engageable within a threaded opening 24 of the housing 12, centrally of the recess 13. The trunion 22 engages rotatably within a somewhat enlarged cylindrical recess 25 of the housing immediately above the threaded opening 24.

At the rear side of the recess 13, a striker 26 or firing pin is mounted slidably in a bore 27 of the housing 12 which opens through the rear end of the housing. The firing pin has an enlarged rounded head 28 on its forward end received slidably in an enlarged bore portion 29 immediately adjacent the cup 20 when the latter is in the firing position, FIG. 6. The firing pin head 28 is arranged to strike the center of the cup 20 holding the cap 21 at the rear open end of the flash hole 19.

A hammer 30 is mounted on a suitable pivot pin 31 near the rear of the breech mechanism 11 and is biased forwardly to the firing position by a main spring 32 of any preferred type. A trigger 33 is provided having a trigger return spring 34, and a scar 35 locks the hammer 30 in the cocked or retracted position shown in broken lines until released for firing by the pulling of the trigger.

A gun barrel 36 with rifling 37 in its bore is conventionally anchored to the gun stock and includes a reduced rear extension 38 received snugly within an opening 39 in the forward end of the housing 12. The bore of the barrel 36 is coaxial with the firing pin 26, chamber 16 and flash hole 19 when the faucet breech block 14 is locked in the firing position. The barrel contains a forcing cone 40 at its rear end through which a ball projectile 41 must pass when the gun is fired before entering the rifled bore 42 of the barrel. In so doing, the ball projectile has imparted thereto a somewhat elongated bullet shape, as indicated at 41' in FIG. 6, and the projectile has its density increased in the process of passing through the forcing cone. These factors improve the range, accuracy and effectiveness of the gun. A device of a simplified nature to releasably lock the faucet breech block 14 in the firing position is provided. This locking device is in the form of a spring metal lever 43 having a forward plate extension 44 anchored to one side of the housing 12 by suitable fasteners 45. At its rear end the spring lever has an upstanding thumb-depressable release extension 46 which projects slightly above the top of the housing 12 when the locking lever is in the relaxed elevated locking position relative to the breech block 14. The lever 43 lies close to the adjacent flat side wall of the housing 12 and is attached thereto only by the forward end fasteners 45. Near its center, the spring lever 43 has a small upstanding locking lug 47 which enters a locking or detent opening 48 formed in the bottom face of the breech block 14 eccentrically of the trunion 22, see FIGS. 4 and 2. When the faucet breech block 14 is turned to the firing position, FIGS. 2 and 6, the lug 47 enters the opening 48 and locks the breech block with its chamber 16 properly aligned with the bore of the barrel. By simply depressing the release extension 46, the spring lever 43 yields downwardly and the lug 47 disengages the opening 48 so that the breech block 14 may be turned with the fingers approximately 90 to a loading position, FIG. 4, where the chamber 16 is exposed at one side of the gun. In this position, gun powder 49 of the desired type and amount, plus the ball projectile 41, is introduced into the chamber 16 and suitably compacted. Following this simple loading operation, the breech block 14 is rotated back to the firing position and is locked by the lug 47 in this position securely.

A simple hammer lock or safety 50 of L-shaped formation operates in conjunction with the locking device for the breech block 14. This safety 50 is pivoted at 51 to the adjacent side wall of housing 12 immediately rearwardly of the spring lever 43. The safety 50 has a small rounded projection 52 on its forward end engageable within a recess 53 of like shape formed in the rear of the lever 43, FIGS. 1 and 5. By means of this connection between the pivoted safety 50 and spring lever 43, the safety is shifted to the on position relative to the hammer 30 whenever the extension 46 is depressed to release the breech block 14 for turning, see FIG. 1. Whenever the lever 43 and extension 46 are elevated for locking the breech block in the firing position, the safety 50 is automatically shifted to the inactive position relative to the hammer 30 so that the hammer is freed for firing action.

The firing sequence is as follows. With the chamber 16 properly loaded, as described, and with the faucet breech block 14 locked in the firing position, FIG. 6, by the lug 47 and with the hammer 30 cocked, the trigger is pulled to release the hammer. The main spring 32 thrusts the hammer against the firing pin 26 which strikes the cup and explodes the cap 21. Fire flashes through the hole 19 and ignites the powder 49. The resulting explosion in chamber 16 propels the ball 41 through the forcing cone 40 and into the barrel bore 42, changing the shape and density of the projectile, as explained.

To reload, the extension 46 is depressed to unlock the breech block 14 and activate the safety 50. The breech block is turned to the right angular loading position, FIG. 4, and the cup 20 is removed for the introduction of a new cap 21 and then is replaced on the nipple 18. Gun powder and a new ball 41 are loaded into the chamber 16 and the breech block is returned to the firing position and locked by the lever 43 which operation simultaneously de-activates the safety 50 by swinging it downwardly, FIG. 1, and out of the path of the hammer 30.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

I. A gun comprising a breech housing mountable upon a gun body portion and having a top recess intermediate its ends, means on said housing for anchoring the rear end of a gun barrel adjacent the forward side of said recess and for mounting a firing pin at the rear side of said recess, a faucet breech block engageable rotatably in the recess of the housing and having a swiveled connection with the housing below the recess, the faucet breech block having a loading and'firing chamber opening at one point through the side wall of the breech block and adapted to register with the bore of the barrel when the breech block is in a firing position, the breech block having a flash hole leading from the back of said chamber and opening through the side wall of the breech block at a point diametrically opposite the chamber opening, means to position a firing cap on the breech block at the mouth of said flash hole and in alignment with said firing pin, a trigger actuated firing mechanism on the gun operable to engage the firing pin and drive the same forwardly on the housing to explode the cap, and a manually operated locking device on the housing including a part having releasable interlocking engagement with the faucet breech block when the latter is in the firing position.

2. The structure of claim 1, and a nipple projection carried by the breech block adjacent the flash hole, and said means to position a firing cap on the breech block comprising a cup engageable telescopically on the nipple projection and adapted to contain the firing cap and to hold the cap over the mouth of the flash hole, said cup having an end wall in opposed alignment to the firing pin.

3. The structure of claim 2, and said firing pin disposed slidably in a bore of said housing and having an enlarged head at its forward end adjacent said cup, said housing having an enlarged bore portion receiving said head movably and forming a shoulder on the housing to arrest reverse movement of the firing pin and cup in response to firing the gun.

4. The structure of claim 1, and said swiveled connection comprising a depending trunion on the bottom of the faucet breech block, and a bearing recess in the housing below said top recess and receiving the trunion rotatably. r

5. The structure of claim 1, and said breech housing comprising an elongated block-like body having end portions forwardly and aft of said top recess, trunion means on the bottom of the faucet breech block and cooperating journal means on the housing at'the bottom of the top recess for mounting the faucet breech block rotatably, the faucet breech block having a disclike body portion of sufficient width to project outwardly from the opposite sides of the housing to facilitate grasping and turning.

6. The structure of claim 1, and said manually operated locking device comprising a depressable spring lever attached to one side of the housing and having an intermediate upstanding locking lug, the breech block having a cooperating locking opening in its lower side registering with the locking lug and receiving the lug when the breech block is turned to a firing position, depressing of the spring lever releasing the breech block for manual turning to a loading position transversely of the gun barrel axis.

7. The structure of claim 6, and said locking opening of the breech block being radially spaced from the center rotational axis of the breech block so as to overhang one side face of the housing when the breech block is in the firing position whereby the locking lug can enter the locking opening.

8. The structure of claim 7, and a hammer locking safety pivoted on one side of the housing and having a driving connection with the spring lever whereby depression of the spring lever to release the breech block for turning to the loading position automatically activates the safety so that the hammer cannot strike the firing pin.

9. The structure of claim 8, and said safety comprising an L-shaped member having a lateral arm movable into the path of the hammer when the spring lever is depressed, said driving connection comprising a rounded projection on the safety engaging within a rounded reshaped thereby when entering the rifled barrel. 

1. A gun comprising a breech housing mountable upon a gun body portion and having a top recess intermediate its ends, means on said housing for anchoring the rear end of a gun barrel adjacent the forward side of said recess and for mounting a firing pin at the rear side of said recess, a faucet breech block engageable rotatably in the recess of the housing and having a swiveled connection with the housing below the recess, the faucet breech block having a loading and firing chamber opening at one point through the side wall of the breech block and adapted to register with the bore of the barrel when the breech block is in a firing position, the breech block having a flash hole leading from the back of said chamber and opening through the side wall of the breech block at a point diametrically opposite the chamber opening, means to position a firing cap on the breech block at the mouth of said flash hole and in alignment with said firing pin, a trigger actuated firing mechanism on the gun operable to engage the firing pin and drive the same forwardly on the housing to explode the cap, and a manually operated locking devicE on the housing including a part having releasable interlocking engagement with the faucet breech block when the latter is in the firing position.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and a nipple projection carried by the breech block adjacent the flash hole, and said means to position a firing cap on the breech block comprising a cup engageable telescopically on the nipple projection and adapted to contain the firing cap and to hold the cap over the mouth of the flash hole, said cup having an end wall in opposed alignment to the firing pin.
 3. The structure of claim 2, and said firing pin disposed slidably in a bore of said housing and having an enlarged head at its forward end adjacent said cup, said housing having an enlarged bore portion receiving said head movably and forming a shoulder on the housing to arrest reverse movement of the firing pin and cup in response to firing the gun.
 4. The structure of claim 1, and said swiveled connection comprising a depending trunion on the bottom of the faucet breech block, and a bearing recess in the housing below said top recess and receiving the trunion rotatably.
 5. The structure of claim 1, and said breech housing comprising an elongated block-like body having end portions forwardly and aft of said top recess, trunion means on the bottom of the faucet breech block and cooperating journal means on the housing at the bottom of the top recess for mounting the faucet breech block rotatably, the faucet breech block having a disc-like body portion of sufficient width to project outwardly from the opposite sides of the housing to facilitate grasping and turning.
 6. The structure of claim 1, and said manually operated locking device comprising a depressable spring lever attached to one side of the housing and having an intermediate upstanding locking lug, the breech block having a cooperating locking opening in its lower side registering with the locking lug and receiving the lug when the breech block is turned to a firing position, depressing of the spring lever releasing the breech block for manual turning to a loading position transversely of the gun barrel axis.
 7. The structure of claim 6, and said locking opening of the breech block being radially spaced from the center rotational axis of the breech block so as to overhang one side face of the housing when the breech block is in the firing position whereby the locking lug can enter the locking opening.
 8. The structure of claim 7, and a hammer locking safety pivoted on one side of the housing and having a driving connection with the spring lever whereby depression of the spring lever to release the breech block for turning to the loading position automatically activates the safety so that the hammer cannot strike the firing pin.
 9. The structure of claim 8, and said safety comprising an L-shaped member having a lateral arm movable into the path of the hammer when the spring lever is depressed, said driving connection comprising a rounded projection on the safety engaging within a rounded recess on the spring lever, whereby arcuate movement of the spring lever produces rotation of the safety on its pivot.
 10. The structure of claim 1, and said gun barrel having a rifled barrel and being provided with a forcing cone at the rear end of the barrel bore in registry with the chamber of the faucet breech block when the latter is in the firing position, whereby a ball projectile in said chamber is forced through said forcing cone and reshaped thereby when entering the rifled barrel. 